Miss DC and Miss DC Teen Black America Pageant
by Andrea "Aunni" Young
Special to the Afro
November 7, 2009
The Miss Black America Pageant Organization celebrates 40 years of excellence and kicked off “The Rebirth” on November 7 with the Miss DC Metropolitan City Competition, attended by Pageant owner J. Morris Anderson and produced by Natalie Williams, new President.
Kamilla Collier-Mullin, former teacher at Barbara Jordan Public Charter School, was crowned Miss DC Metropolitan. Ashley Anglin, Duke Ellington High School student, was crowned Miss Teen DC Metropolitan. Both pageant queens’ winnings include cash, photo shoot, hair services, fitness training, teeth whitening, wardrobe, custom evening gown, Queen’s Brunch, and official stationery.
Anji Corley, WPGC 955 FM Radio’s “America’s Next Top Jock”, and Wisdom Martin, WTTG Fox 5 News reporter, served as Mistress and Master of Ceremony for the adult competition. Sheila Stewart, News Director at Radio One, served as Mistress of Ceremony for the teen competition. The pageant was held at C.H. Flowers High School in Springdale, Maryland.
Owner Anderson, a Philadelphia resident, created the pageant 40 years ago because “African-American women could not enter the Miss America pageant but could become Miss Black America, and some black people (even today) are prejudiced against other black people.” The Miss Black America pageant has gained recognition over the years for crowning media mogul Oprah Winfrey as the 1972 Miss Black America Tennessee, giving the Jackson 5 family a performance start in 1969 at Madison Square Garden, and having the 1 Black owned TV special aired on NBC in 1977.
Collier-Mullin, Miss DC, said “I followed the success of others; my platform is for better education resources with wraparound services.” Collier-Mullin also won the Swimsuit, Talent, and Projection categories. She captured the judges with her spoken word “Creation of the Black Woman” and later glided gracefully wearing a fully sequined silver and black floor length gown. Collier-Mullin won with passionate responses to questions asked by Corley and Martin.
Anglin, Miss Teen DC, said “my desire to be a role model for African-American females set me apart onstage”, who ranked number one over 12 other contestants. Anglin’s talent was a well-received dance performance. Anglin expects to balance her time studying Theatre at Duke Ellington and representing Miss Teen DC over the next year.
Some adult pageant judges included Rev. Tony Lee of Hope AME Church said “all represented themselves well”, while Wal-Mart executive and judge Rhoda Washington was proud to be an official sponsor of the pageant. Some teen pageant judges included WHUR News Anchor Molette Green, DC Fashion Week Ean Williams, Maryland based Jolie Entertainment owner Waikeena Robinson, and DC Councilman Harry “Tommy” Thomas, Jr.
Adult pageant entertainment included video footage of former pageant winners, “Dream Girls” performance by all 17 contestants, African dancers who sprinkled rose petals onstage, and performance by Urban League Michael Jackson Dance Competition winner Dimitri Reeves. Corley and Martin engaged the audience with humor and danced with audience participants during a show break, audience participants later received passes to WPGC 955 FM Radio’s “Family First” event. Corley, also a model and actress, wore a luxurious green and black silk floor length design by Tibi.
Williams, Pageant President, is gearing up for the 54 city tour search for local Miss Black America queens around the country, next stops to include Richmond, VA and Philadelphia, PA. Williams, who has not identified Washington, DC as the national Miss Black America pageant location, said she “was pleased to have Kamilla as our DMV queen”. Williams wore an enchanting black satin gown, backless with an accentuating front split.
Makeup artist Matthew of Prodigy Artistry used Iman Cosmetics, pageant sponsor, on all pageant contestants.
